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Sir David Murray

Murray, 55, has added £100m to his fortune in the past year, ranking him 95th equal in Britain and fifth in Scotland. Chances are that he paid a pretty penny for the pear-shaped, pink diamond engagement ring for his girlfriend Kae Tinto, a 34-year-old lawyer. His first wife, Louise, died of cancer in 1992. The entrepreneur has known his share of hard times. Murray lost his legs in a car accident in 1976 and says: “You could say it concentrated my mind on business.” In 1997, he set up the Murray Foundation, which provides support for amputees and their families. Murray, who was knighted last year, started work in an Edinburgh metal alloy company, earning £7 a week. His steel business, Murray International, was originally based on metals trading. He now has a portfolio of mining, property and venture-capital businesses. Murray International should show profits of about £50m in 2006-07 while his Premier Property Group is investing in London and Europe to the tune of £200m last year. Then there is his football club, Rangers. It has been overshadowed by Glasgow rival Celtic and failed to qualify for the Champions League last season, which left it with a £700,000 loss in the first half of 2006-07 against a £6.1m profit in the same period last year. Murray International, with Rangers included, is worth £350m, while his property portfolio, including large tracts around Edinburgh, is also valued at £350m. With personal investments and property, he is easily worth £750m.